Clinical profile and predictors for outcome in children presenting with Guillain-Barré syndrome

Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) is a group of diverse clinical conditions with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) as one of the most common cause. The aim of this study was to study the clinical features and predictors for the requirement of ventilation in children with GBS.

This is a prospective observational study done at a tertiary care hospital where all consecutive children less than 15 years who presented with AFP were enrolled. Demographic characteristics, symptomatology, and physical findings of those patients who were diagnosed with GBS were recorded using a pre-defined questionnaire. Univariate analysis was done to identify clinical variables associated with a higher requirement of ventilation.

Of a total of 53 children with AFP enrolled in the study, a total of 30 patients were diagnosed with GBS. A total of 12 (40%) patients required ventilation, while five of these patients eventually died. The following variants of GBS were identified: AIDP (13/30), AMAN (12/30), and ASMAN (2/30). Lower limbs were affected in 97% of the patients, whereas upper limbs were affected in 83% of the patients. Deep tendon reflexes of the upper limb and lower limb were preserved in 56% and 7% of the patients, respectively. Presence of antecedent URTI was associated with a lower requirement of ventilation. Presence of bulbar palsy, lower upper limb power on presentation, and absence of deep tendon reflex in upper limbs were associated with a higher requirement of ventilation.

GBS is an important cause of AFP in India with no significant difference between the variants in terms of frequency and prognosis. Simple physical findings can be used by primary care physicians to predict the requirement of higher levels of care.